Carnegie Library expert praises Lorain's historical library

LORAIN -- An expert on Ohio's Carnegie Libraries wants locals to take pride in Lorain's own historical library at Streator Park.

Mary Ellen Armentrout, author of "Carnegie Libraries of Ohio: Our Cultural Heritage," will speak to city council tonight at a special meeting at 5:45 p.m. at city hall. Council will discuss the possible transfer of the library to the Lorain Port Authority.

"I'm not here to tell them what to do with it," Armentrout said. "I'm here to stress the importance of keeping it and restoring it."

Armentrout toured the building with councilman Dennis Flores.

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"I think it is in magnificent condition and they've kept it up," she said. "It looks like it will need very little work to turn it into something very usable."

Carnegie Libraries were established across the state, Armentrout said there are 111 in Ohio. Only three of those are in Lorain County. One is still in use as a library in Amherst and the other is the administrative offices at Oberlin College.

Lorain's Carnegie has been vacant for years. The building is unusual in two regards, she said. It is two stories -- a rarity among Carnegies in Ohio -- and it is in a good condition.

"The ones that have been left empty are usually in a pretty bad state of deterioration," she said.

Carnegie Libraries in Coschocton and Xenia, for example, have not been kept up. The Coschocton library is on the verge of collapse, she said.

Cleveland recently closed its last remaining original Carnegie Library, she said.

"They've either sold them or gutted them in order to modernize them," she said. "This is a great opportunity for Lorain to become a shining jewel for the reuse of their building, because we had such a disaster in Cleveland," she said.

The city of Cincinnati has kept every Carnegie Library in their city in the original state.

Many Carnegies are used by historical societies, museums and law offices, she said. Some have even become private housing.

"They are really wonderful architectural gems and they really represent the history of libraries," she said.

Streator Park was donated in 1895 by Dr. Worthy S. Streator. A deed restriction requires the land to be used as a park, a library or a city hall.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, industrialist Andrew Carnegie used his fortune to help pay for building thousands of libraries in communities in the United States and abroad.

"Carnegie believed in free books for the masses," Armentrout said. "These libraries are a real key to our history, which we hope city administrators will appreciate."

The Streator Park Carnegie Library was authorized in 1902.

The city has filed a lawsuit in Lorain County Common Pleas Court to remove the deed restrictions. That case is inactive but remains on the docket of Judge Christopher Rothgery.

Armentrout said the city or a group put in charge of the building would likely have to seek grants or local funding to pay for restoration.

"I think the city could be very proud of what this library could become, it could be a real example for other communities," she said. "There appears to be quite a bit of pride here about the building and a lot of emotional attachment by the local people."